Greening the Community; cleaner, safer, greener for us all ! 8 August 1030 – 1230

We’re delighted to be part of an event which is focussing on many different projects and groups, each of which is part of the community jigsaw to green the borough.

Who’ll be there ? Islington’s Forest for Change team, London Parklet Campaign, Cycle Buddies, information about Cycle Islington’s family bike ride on 14 August and many People Friendly Streets campaigners.

We will be in Canonbury Place from 1030 on a pop-up parklet near the Canonbury Tavern and The Place café so do drop by the peaceful heart of Canonbury and say hello.  

The trees are coming home !

Exciting project update on Islington’s Forest for Change ! After their initial spell at Somerset House, our 200 trees are being cared for in a nursery in Watford, returning to their ‘forever’ homes in Islington in the autumn. For more info, go to the Islington Clean Air Parents site https://islingtoncleanairparents.wordpress.com/campaigns. Donate to the crowdfunder https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/islington-forest-for-change and tell ICAP about any suitable sites for a tree near you. Get involved !

Volunteer vegetable gardener needed!

Thanks to christchurchhighbury.com

Transition Highbury runs a small fruit and veg plot in the garden of Christ Church, Highbury. They have some willing hands but lack the expertise and organisational skills to realise the full potential of this lovely local garden. Can you take charge and advise us what to do? A warm welcome and a share of the produce awaits you
(and the glow of knowing you’re helping the community!)

Please contact Caz Royds – caz@cazmax.co.uk

200 trees are coming to Islington !

Islington Clean Air Parents have secured 200 trees from the London Design Biennale at Somerset House. This is an inspiring project, supported by the council; the trees will come to live in our empty treepits and other grey spaces which could support a tree. It’s so exciting to see trees being planted and not being chopped down. Will you sponsor a tree for your famiy, with your local faith group or local community ? More information and link to the crowdfunder here !

Webinar to inspire – 13 May: micro-greening our urban grey

Mayton Street guerilla parklet

Come and be inspired about what you can do to green your local environment right here right now; four speakers will share what they’re doing here in Islington and you will leave buzzing with positivity. STOP PRESS 11 May: we have five speakers, with a most welcome late entry to update us on some exciting news regarding planting more trees in our densely-populated inner-London borough. One hour well invested ! Thursday 13 May 2000 – 2100. Tickets here

Islington in Bloom !

Find a local treepit in need of tlc, pretty up your windowboxes, plant your garden with bee and insect friendly flowers, grow a herb garden, get the children involved …. lots of opportunities to enter the local ‘In Bloom’ competition run by Islington Council. It runs until 4 July and is on-line so you need to enter photos of your entries. More details. Pssst – it’s easy to apply to maintain a treepit – see link – there is an existing process !

Greening our urban environment – webinar

We’re just pulling together the final speakers for a fab webinar ….. five people who are involved in local projects to make our grey environment green; more details to be announced in the next week. If you are looking for inspiration on what you can do on your own doorstep then keep an eye out for the date. As usual, we’ll be issuing free tickets on EventBrite but will update our blog first. Can’t wait !

Have you half an hour to help a student ?

Your help please for a Geography and urban planning student. She’s currently working on her dissertation on cycling as a sustainable transport mode. Her research is looking into the barriers to cycling as a sustainable transport mode within Islington for different social groups.  How can you help ? Give an interview lasting half an hour – illuminating, fun and a fascinating topic. Let us know and we’ll put you in touch !

Health and wellbeing – let’s get active !

Intelligent Health slide on the effects of chronic stress caused by a lack of green space and no active travel

The webinar with speakers Cllr Rowena Champion and Dr William Bird on 24 February was fascinating; we all somehow knew that active travel was good for us but the medical science by Intelligent Health, Dr Bird’s company, was so compelling. Fingers crossed that Beat the Streets might be implemented in Islington later this year; the whole community would support that ! Slides available soon.

Fab opportunity Nature Conservation Apprenticeship

Islington’s biodiversity action plan

Islington Council’s Nature Conservation Team is currently recruiting for an apprentice. This consists of a two year opportunity to build on your interest in nature and your desire to work outdoors whilst working towards a Level 2 Country Worker qualification. You will work to help manage and maintain the borough’s three nature reserves and Islington Ecology Centre. More information here http://islington.trac.jobs/job/v2879548